Al-Fotuwa SC
Al-Fotuwa Sports Club (Arabic: نادي الفتوة الرياضي) is a Syrian professional football club based in Deir ez-Zor, that competes in the Syrian Premier League, the top flight of Syrian football. Nicknamed "the Blue Knight" (Arabic: الفارس الأزرق) or Azzurri Deir ez-Zor, Al-Fotuwa have won three Premier League titles and four Cup titles. It was founded in 1930 in the city of Deir ez-Zor.
Full name | Al-Fotuwa Sports Club | ||
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Nickname(s) | The Blue Knight (Arabic: الفارس الأزرق) Azzurri Deir ez-Zor | ||
Founded | 1930 | as Ghazi Club||
Ground | Deir ez-Zor Municipal Stadium | ||
Capacity | 13,000 | ||
Chairman | Madloul Al-Aziz | ||
Manager | Ayman Hakeem | ||
League | Syrian Premier League | ||
2022–23 | 1st (Champions) | ||
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History
Al-Fotuwa was founded in 1930 as Ghazi Club and 1950 renamed in Al-Fotuwa Sports Club.[1] Al-Fotuwa Club dominated the 1980s at the level of the Syrian Premier League and is a record holder by reaching the final match of the Syrian Cup nine times in a row, winning four of them. They achieved a double, by winning the league and cup titles, twice in 1990 and 1991. In addition, the club won the title of the Syrian-Lebanese Super Cup, which was held only once. In the 2022–23 season, they won their third title after 32 years and also qualified to their debut 2023–24 AFC Cup. On 2 October 2023, Al-Fotuwa recorded their first ever win in the AFC Cup in a 1–0 win against Lebanon side, Al Ahed.[2]
Stadium
Deir ez-Zor Municipal Stadium is located in Arifi area of Deir ez-Zor, Syria.[3] The stadium consists of a football field, and spaces that accommodate 10,000 spectators. The first phase of the reconstruction process started in 1997 and was completed in late March 2002.
Colours and kits
Since its foundation, the traditional colour of Fotuwa's home kit is yellow with various designs over the years. Therefore, the club is nicknamed Azzuri by the fans as a reference to the logo. The away kit may vary between a full blue kit and a yellow kit with blue stripes on the shirt.
Supporters and rivalries
This great club is supported by large numbers of fans from Deir ez-Zor Governorate, and it is considered one of the four largest fans in Syria and the most passionate and encouraging of its club.[4] The main rival of the club is Al-Jihad SC from Al-Qamishli, with whom they play matches with great charge and momentum.[5]
Achievements
- Syrian Premier League: 3
- Champion: 1990, 1991, 2023
- Syrian Cup: 4
- Champion: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
- Syrian-Lebanese Super Cup: 1
- Champion: 1991
Performance in AFC competitions
- Asian Club Championship: 1 appearance
- 1988–89: Group Stage
- AFC Cup: 1 appearance
- 2023–24: TBD
Records
Accurate as of 22 August 2023
Match won | Match drawn | Match lost | Champions | Runners-up |
Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988–89 | Asian Club Championship | Group | Al-Rasheed | 0–3 | |
Al-Sadd | 1–4 | ||||
Al-Ansar | 1–0 | ||||
Performance in UAFA competitions
- Arab Cup Winners' Cup: 1 appearance
- 1989: Group Stage
Records
Accurate as of 12 June 2022
Match won | Match drawn | Match lost | Champions | Runners-up |
Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1989 | Arab Cup Winners' Cup | Group | Al-Ittihad Jeddah | 0–5 | |
Stade Tunisien | 0–4 | ||||
Al-Rasheed | 0–7 | ||||
Players
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable coaches
- Anouar Abdul Kader (2008–2013)
- Osama Al Ghabad (2013–2015)[6]
- Anouar Abdul Kader (2015–2017)
- Mohamed Aqil (2021–2023)
- Ammar Shamali (2023)
- Ayman Hakeem (2023–present)
References
- Al Fotuwa SC – Weltfussballarchiv
- "رسميا.. الفتوة بطلا للدوري السوري" (in Arabic). kooora.com. 30 May 2023. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- Sports facilities in Deir ez-Zor
- The Football Match That Sparked The Rojava Revolution
- 5 Politically-Charged Football Matches that Turned into Madness
- "identified Osama al-Abd al-Mohsen coach of Al-Fotuwa". Archived from the original on 2015-09-11. Retrieved 2015-09-11.